8 Books For People Who Just Don't Read Books

Book Ideas for People Who Don't Like to Read

Non-readers. They lurk among us. Some people just don't read books. It's not that they have anything against them, they just aren't drawn to them. Even if they aren't drawn to buying a book of their own, and even if they aren't traveling to the library, that doesn't mean that they won't enjoy a book.....if you pick the right one.

Every Christmas in our family, amongst all the other gifts is a book for everyone. Whether you're 6 months old or 60 years old there is a book under there for you, because books are important.

Now, don't go buying them a 500 page novel. That will scare them off, and they will roll their eyes at your gift (if only on the inside). Remember, you are getting them something they would enjoy, not a life lesson. It is not your job or place to try to turn them into a reader. Simply present them with something that would entertain them. It's best to go with a book that is on a topic they would really enjoy - one that is filled with great images as well as text, and one that is captivating.

1. PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives

The premise of the Postsecret books is simple. Author Frank Warren asked the public to send him their secrets, expressed on postcards. The cards he received were beautiful and fascinating. Each postcard is a piece of artwork, with a message that makes you reconsider society norms and your own emotions.

Why is PostSecrets a great gift?

This book has immediate results. They can flip it open, read one page and you can see their reaction.

This book is a quick read. You could probably fly through it in a half hour, but you could go back to it again and again and read more into it by examining the images more closely.

This book can be read socially. It's something you can read with two friends alongside you (like on the sofa in the afternoon on Christmas Day).

2. Graffiti World Updated Edition: Street Art from Five Continents

It's hard to look through this book and not have a renewed appreciation of this form of art. Graffiti is often looked upon with disdain, but it truly is an art.

This book shows amazing graffiti from around the world. The different styles and subjects make this an especially fascinating book.

This graffiti book stands out from others in it's massive number of images. It includes well over 2,000 illustrations by over 150 artists. It has page after page of stunning artwork in places across the world.

3. Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF

Every coffee table needs a great WTF book, right? This book is filled with some of the oddest items to pass through etsy. If you are unfamiliar with etsy, you may be living under a rock - it is after all, THE marketplace of all things homemade.

The internet is where weird people live, and etsy is where weird crafters sell their wares. Regular crafters are there too, but this book celebrates the deliciously bizarre items there. Things like a poncho for a chicken and a clock made out of an old “mostly clean” cheese grater.

These are real things made by real crafters selling them for real money and possibly purchased by real wackos. You'll love it.

4. Earth From Above

Earth From Above is an extraordinary book by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

His photos are taken from airplanes high above the earth giving a perspective of our planet few have seen before. The photos are intermingled with information about their origin and with information about protecting the earth. You can view some photos and see more at pictureearth.org.

This is the kind of book you can pick up and browse through no matter what you are feeling and always leave with a sense of awe, humanity, and connection to the world in which we live.

6. The Mammoth Book of Tattoos

If they are into tattoos at all, a book of amazing tats is a great gift. This one has a lot of awesome artwork in it.

This is the kind of book you could sit and flip through and it brings up things to talk about. It's a mammoth book, as the title says, which makes sense for this kind of book. The more the merrier when it comes to tattoos, right? Maybe. Just not on the face. Come on, no one really needs a tattoo on the face.

7. Other People's Love Letters

With voyeuristic intentions, much like PostSecrets, this book looks deeply into the lives of regular people, digging into the stuff they wouldn't want the whole world to know about. Bill Shapiro gathers a selection of love letters, text messages, and notes on napkins to make for a great exploration of love.

This is perfect for a hopeless romantic. Give it to a friend or give it to your loved one as an "I love you" gift.

8. The Zombie Survival Guide

This one is purely for survival purposes. If you really care about your friend you will make sure they have the information needed to survive a zombie attack.

Giving them a book does more than say "here, I thought you'd like this." It says, "I hope you survive a disaster worse than any seen before." It says, "I hope you don't get eaten by a horde of undead longing to feast upon your flesh." Let's face it, it says "I love you, man."

Comments?

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Flora Crew 4 years agofrom Evanston, Illinois

This is a good lens. A person I know who isn't in to reading but likes art may get that art from above book as her next gift from me!

Anja Toetenel 4 years agofrom The Hague, the Netherlands

Great selection Kab :-D I know one book for people who don't read: they sell it here as sort of a joke: it's a 100 pages or so book, but... all pages are blank ;-) When they don't read it make them write their own or so :)

My daughter is a librarian and she has read all of the 'PostSecret' books. she loves them. She also read 'All My Friends' are Dead and found it hilarious! I can't wait to read "Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF." Awesome lens! :D

James1978 5 years ago

Nice list. For those people who don't read a lot, I can recommend you buy a Kindle because you will soon start buying and downloading books like crazy.

Fruitfulvine2 5 years ago

The zombie survival guide sounds like it would be an interesting read.

anonymous 5 years ago

I want to buy all of these! BLAST!

nifwlseirff 5 years ago

I think my favourite would have to be the zombie survival guide!

anonymous 5 years ago

The book titles sound good. I will check out these books the next I go to a bookstore.

jtmcwill 6 years ago

great Lens! Big fan of the Zombie Survival Guide.

anonymous 6 years ago

What a fun lens! I'll be perusing the PostSecret books next time I'm in the bookstore.

cducky 6 years ago

Perfect! I'm not a reader, although I have no idea why. I always wanted to be the girl in the corner of the coffee shop reading a book. I find i'm solving math problems instead of reading but I would like to try a few of the books on here!

JeremiahStanghini 7 years ago

I like this lens. These are a really great set of books for people who don't actually like to 'read.' I remember sitting in a coffee shop and spending some time reading through PostSecret.